The new challenge for artists is to interpret the Vernatsch grape variety

Cantina Kaltern, a cooperative that encompasses Lake Caldaro and is one of the most important realities in South Tyrol, invites emerging and established artists to interpret the 7th edition of kunst.stück (literally “work of art”), which this year will feature the Vernatsch (or Schiava) grape variety, an indigenous variety of South Tyrol that has played an important role in Caldaro since the beginnings of viticulture.

The kunst.stück project by Cantina Kaltern was established with the 2014 harvest, and since then, each year, the grape that best represents nature’s work of art – and that excites the Kellermeister (winemaker) for its quality – is used to create a wine produced in a limited edition with an artistic label.

This year, the artist’s task will be to design a special label for the Vernatsch DOC 2023, a brilliant red, fine, and elegantly floral wine, which for this occasion has been crafted from two particularly significant vineyards: a historic pergola vineyard, over 100 years old, and a young guyot-trained vineyard, 15 years old. This combination of tradition and innovation, which has developed over many generations, reflects the character and development of the Vernatsch grape and has inspired this year’s theme: “A Character Through the Generations.”

All information on how to participate in the competition is available on the Cantina Kaltern website at the following link: https://www.kellereikaltern.com/it/blog/detail/sCategory/200/blogArticle/249

Label submissions are possible until September 15 (23:59). After that, a jury selected by Cantina Kaltern will choose a preliminary selection of works that will be visible on the company’s website, where the public can vote for their favorite label from November 11 to December 10, with the chance to be drawn and receive special prizes. The official presentation of the Vernatsch DOC 2023 label is scheduled for next spring; the winning artist will receive €1,000 and will have access to Cantina Kaltern’s wine center spaces for a solo exhibition.

The varieties selected in previous editions of the kunst.stück project have been Pinot Blanc in 2014 interpreted by Claudio Paternoster; Cabernet Sauvignon in 2015 with a label by Margit Pittschieler; Kalterersee Classico Superiore 2016 represented by Stefano Mandato; Merlot from the 2018 vintage with the label by Anita Ladurner; Pinot Grigio 2019 illustrated by Federico Petrolito; and Lagrein Riserva DOC 2020 with a label by Giuseppe Rametta.

Cantina Kaltern

With its 440 hectares of vineyards and 590 members, is the largest cooperative winery in South Tyrol and one of the most significant voices in the region’s viticulture. A historical entity representing the entire municipality of Caldaro, it is also the most important interpreter of Schiava in the Kalterersee Doc version. The Quintessenz line (five pure expressions that capture the essence of the terroir and the spirit of Cantina Kaltern) represents the company’s excellence and, by extension, the range also includes the Selezioni Line, with grapes from historically significant vineyards, and the Classica Line, cuvées that express the typicality of their grape variety. Since 2019, Cantina Kaltern has been certified Fair’n Green, a label for sustainable viticulture.